94-26710. Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page ]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-26710]
    
    
    [Federal Register: October 28, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Forest Service
    
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Bureau of Land Management
    [AZ-020-05-7122-00-5499-24-1A]
    
    
    Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
    
    AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix District, United States 
    Department of the Interior, and Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, 
    United States Department of Agriculture.
    
    ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS; Cyprus Miami Mining 
    Corporation, Claypool, AZ; Proposed Leach Facilities Expansion Project.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Phoenix District Office, 
    and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Tonto National Forest, are 
    preparing a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed 
    expansion of mine facilities of Cyprus Miami Mining Corporation (CMMC). 
    The mine is located near the Towns of Globe and Miami, in Gila County, 
    Arizona. CMMC has submitted a proposed Operating Plan (to be processed 
    by BLM as a Mining Plan of Operations (MPO) and by USFS as a Plan of 
    Operations (POO). The plan proposes to expand the facilities at the 
    existing mine and has been filed with the BLM and the USFS, as required 
    under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and Title V of the Federal 
    Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976. The BLM and USFS have 
    responsibility for analysis, review, and approval of the mining plan. 
    Preparation of the EIS will follow the National Environmental Policy 
    Act (NEPA) and Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, subpart 1500.
        The new MPO/POO proposes construction of three new leach facility 
    areas referred to as: (1) The Oxhide leach facility, (2) the BL leach 
    facility, and (3) the GMC leach facility, together with the required 
    ancillary facilities. The leach facility areas will be used for the 
    purpose of placement and subsequent leaching of copper-bearing ore 
    mined from reserves located entirely on lands owned by CMMC. The leach 
    facilities will be constructed partially on federal lands managed by 
    the USFS and the BLM, and partially on lands solely owned by CMMC (see 
    acreages in ``Supplementary Information Section'' below). Ore placed on 
    the leach pads will be treated with sulfuric acid leach solution. 
    Copper bearing leach solutions captured from leach pads will be 
    processed into high quality cathode copper in existing solvent 
    extraction and electrowinning plants. In addition, an overburden 
    deposition area (called Barney Overburden Site, or Barney OB) is 
    planned. The overburden deposition area will be constructed to 
    accommodate uneconomic material removed from the active mining 
    operation. With the proposed expansion it is anticipated that the 
    Oxhide, BL and GMC leach facilities and Barney OB will operate for the 
    life of the mining operations, which is estimated to be 16 to 20 years.
    
    DATES: The public is invited to participate in the NEPA process 
    beginning with scoping and the identification of issues in November, 
    1994. Public Scoping Meetings to identify issues will be held as 
    follows:
    
    Wednesday, November 16, 1994--7:00-9:00 pm
    
    Miami Arizona High School Cafeteria, Highway 60 & Ragus Road, Claypool, 
    AZ 85532.
    
    Thursday, November 17, 1994--7:00-9:00 pm
    
    Mesa Community & Conference Center, 201 Center St., Pomeroy Room, Mesa, 
    AZ 85211.
    
        Written comments relating to the identification of issues should be 
    received by December 17, 1994.
    
    ADDRESSES/FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Send written comments to one 
    of the following addresses:
        BLM: Mary Johnson, Joint Project Manager, Bureau of Land 
    Management, Phoenix District Office, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, 
    Phoenix, Arizona 85027 (Phone: (602)780-8090).
        Forest Service: Paul Stewart, Joint Project Manager, Tonto National 
    Forest, 2324 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006 (Phone: (602) 225-
    5200).
    
    RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The responsible officials for the agencies are 
    Mr. Charles R. Bazan, Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest, and Mr. 
    Gordon Cheniae, District Manager, BLM Phoenix District. They may be 
    reached at the above addresses and phone numbers. A separate record of 
    decision will be signed by the responsible official from each agency.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CMMC owns and operates a large open-pit mine 
    and leach operation in the Globe-Miami mining district. The CMMC 
    complex in Miami also includes a smelter and a rod plant. Approximately 
    950 people are employed at the Cyprus Miami facility. Additional 
    surface area is needed for leach pads and associated facilities to 
    ensure the continued and uninterrupted production of high quality 
    copper cathodes. The mine is located near the Towns of Globe and Miami, 
    Arizona about 65 miles east of Phoenix on State Highway 60.
        Planned activities would take place on a combination of public and 
    private surface and mineral lands. The public lands include lands 
    managed both by the Tonto National Forest and BLM Phoenix District. 
    Total new disturbance for the Oxhide pad would be 386 acres (with 329 
    acres managed by USFS and 5 acres managed by BLM). Total new 
    disturbance for the BL pad would be 470 acres (with 184 acres managed 
    by BLM and 203 acres managed by USFS). Total new disturbance for the 
    GMC pad would be 236 acres (114 acres managed by BLM). Total new 
    disturbance for the Barney OB site would be 216 acres (52 acres managed 
    by BLM and 32 acres managed by USFS). Two stormwater impoundments would 
    be created upstream of the BL pad site in Little Pinto Canyon and 
    Webster Gulch. Total acres of private and public disturbance for all 
    facilities would be 1,308 acres. Total acres of public land disturbed 
    by all sites would be 919 acres (564 acres managed by USFS and 355 
    acres managed by BLM).
        Potential issues may include but may not be limited to surface and 
    groundwater quality, socioeconomics, air quality, cultural resources, 
    biological resources, visual resources, riparian areas, and mine 
    reclamation. The following permits or licenses may be required to 
    implement the proposed action:
        Arizona Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) from Arizona Department of 
    Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
        Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit from the U.S. Army Corps 
    of Engineers (COE) and Section 401 certification from ADEQ.
        Modifications to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
    System (NPDES) Permit under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act from 
    ADEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
        Dam Safety Permit from Arizona Department of Water Resources.
        Well installation permits from Arizona Department of Water 
    Resources.
        Approval of modifications to the Air Quality Permit to Operate from 
    ADEQ.
        Approved modifications to the Stormwater Discharge Permit from EPA.
        The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be developed by a 
    third party contractor who has been approved by the BLM and USFS. The 
    contractor will use an interdisciplinary team to develop the document. 
    The BLM and USFS will have the joint responsibility for the content of 
    the EIS. The comment period for the draft EIS is anticipated to be in 
    the summer of 1995. The comment period for the final EIS is anticipated 
    to be the winter of 1995.
        At this early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of 
    several court rulings related to public participation in the 
    environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft EIS must 
    structure their participation in their review of the proposal so that 
    it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
    contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDS, 435 U.S. 519, 
    553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
    draft EIS stage but that are not raised until after completion of the 
    final EIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. 
    Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, 
    Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these 
    court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this 
    proposed action participate by the close of the comment period so that 
    substantive comments and objections are made available to the agencies 
    at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in 
    the EIS.
        To assist the USFS and BLM in identifying and considering issues 
    and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the proposed project 
    should be as specific as possible. Comments may address issues and 
    concerns or the potential alternatives to be considered in the 
    statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental 
    Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA 
    at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
        Complete records of all phases of the environmental documentation 
    process will be available for public review at the BLM, Phoenix 
    District Office, and at the Tonto National Forest Supervisor's Office 
    (same as addresses noted above).
    
        Dated: October 24, 1994.
    Paul J. Buff,
    Acting District Manager.
        Dated: October 24, 1994.
    Gordon L. Cates,
    Acting Forest Supervisor.
    [FR Doc. 94-26710 Filed 10-27-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-32-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/28/1994
Department:
Land Management Bureau
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS; Cyprus Miami Mining Corporation, Claypool, AZ; Proposed Leach Facilities Expansion Project.
Document Number:
94-26710
Dates:
The public is invited to participate in the NEPA process beginning with scoping and the identification of issues in November, 1994. Public Scoping Meetings to identify issues will be held as follows:
Pages:
0-0 (None pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: October 28, 1994, AZ-020-05-7122-00-5499-24-1A